Jul 1, 2009

Since this is Canada Day, I figured it only fitting to begin "Film Book Month" with a look back at two publications featuring the work of this nation's finest film writer, the late Jay Scott, who was also recognized internationally for his style, depth and reverence. While he was primarily employed by The Globe and Mail for current movie reviews and related pieces, Scott would also write longer pieces for other publications. In any occasion, one immediately recognizes his flair for lively paragraph-long sentences, peppered with dry wit, and pop-cultural references weaved into the fabric.

Midnight Matinees, a collection of articles and medium-length reviews, is a lovely representation of Jay Scott’s skill in combining his critical and reportage techniques in the same page. The longer pieces which fill the first half of the book read like the creative non-fiction reportage of Tom Wolfe (I suppose it is no coincidence that one piece documents the making of The Right Stuff, based on Wolfe’s novel.) In these sections, he often writes with a tongue-in-cheek, gossipy point of view which are insider’s reports on the fun to be had on The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, or on the geriatric stars of Cocoon. But he also illuminates parts of the globe that many of us have not treaded. For La Balance, there is the light of the multicultural aspect of France. Most interesting is his rather sad account of a film festival in Havana (in which the fact that there is nothing much to report is the report). But two of the best Jay Scott pieces I’ve ever read are included here: “The Sadomasochism Factory” begins with a colourful posthumous character sketch of director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, whose demeanour then parlays into Scott’s analysis of his films. Plus, his piece on the sorry state of the Canadian film industry (written right in the time of the good old tax shelter) is straight-faced, a bit snippy, but right on the money. The choices for the individual film reviews are interesting in that many of them were not box office champions. Films like Cal or Man of Flowers, which do have their followers, are here perhaps because in the early to mid 1980’s, when quality films were at an all-time slump, the discerning viewer looking for something decent to rent may not necessarily know about these comparatively obscure titles. In that regard, this book is an overview of the fare one colloquially expected Jay Scott to report to us abort. In that regard, this book almost becomes a consumer guide by a writer who had no interest in doing consumer reports.

Great Scott!, published one year after the man’s death, is a “Jay’s Greatest Hits”, if you will. It is easy to suggest that the collection of reviews shows a progression of the different waves of cinema in the 15 years of his tenure at the Globe. But, at best, this book shows Scott’s diverse styles, from the surreal and satirical to the cutting, and they reveal his work to be very experimental, once shown back to back. There is nothing wrong with putting in reviews of box-office favourites like Superman or Aliens, but in a “Jay Scott reader”, one rather expects his forte in bringing forth an obscure title. That is why the inclusion of The Inheritors or Annie's Coming Out are treats. But even so, Great Scott! is a highly enjoyable read. Scott’s wild, elliptical, river-like prose goes down like a good winet. Also valuable is Robert Fulford’s introduction, (originally published in Toronto Life), which gives a colourful portrait of Jay Scott, the man.

No comments:

LinkWithin

WELCOME!

Thisis the online companion to my print publication, The Eclectic Screening Room, featuring film reviews and articles. Since the print zine has published far less frequently in recent years, this blog can be more timely with news and reviews. In addition to writings exclusive to the web, this site also features pieces from out-of-print back issues of the old zine.